Rookwood

'How?' exclaimed Luke, recoiling.

'A lie, as black as hell,' cried Lady Rookwood.

'A truth, as clear as heaven,' returned Jack. 'I will speedily convince you of the fact.' Then turning to Lady Rookwood, he whispered, 'Shall I give him the marriage document?'

'Beware!' said Lady Rookwood.

'Do I avouch the truth, then?'

She was silent.

'I am answered,' said Luke.

'Then leave her to her fate,' cried Jack.

'No,' replied Luke; 'she is still a woman, and I will not abandon her to ruffianly violence. Set her free.'

'You are a fool,' said Jack.

'Hurrah, hurrah!' vociferated Coates, who had rushed to the window. 'Rescue, rescue! they are returning from the church; I see the torchlight in the avenue; we are saved!'

'Hell and the devil!' cried Jack; 'not an instant is to be lost. Alive, lads; bring off all the plunder you can; be handy!'

'Lady Rookwood, I, bid you farewell,' said Luke, in a tone in which scorn and sorrow were blended. 'We shall meet again.'

'We have not parted yet,' returned she; 'will you let this man pass? A thousand pounds for his life.'

'Upon the nail?' asked Rust.

'By the living God, if any of you attempt to touch him, I will blow his brains out upon the spot, be he friend or foe,' cried Jack. 'Luke Bradley, we shall meet again. You shall hear from me.'

'Lady Rookwood,' said Luke, as he departed, 'I shall not forget this night.'

'Is all ready?' asked Palmer of his comrades.

'All.'

'Then budge.'

'Stay,' said Lady Rookwood, in a whisper to him. 'What will purchase that document?'

'Hem!'

'A thousand pounds?'

'Double it.'

'It shall be doubled.'

'I will turn it over.'

'Resolve me now.'

'You shall hear from me.'

'In what manner?'

'I will find speedy means.'

'Your name is Palmer?'

'Palmer is the name he goes by, your ladyship,' replied Coates; 'but it is a fashion with these rascals to have an alias.'

'Ha! ha!' said Jack, thrusting the ramrod into his pistol-barrel, as if to ascertain there was a ball within it; 'are you there, Mr. Coates? Pay your wager, sir.'

'What wager?'

'The hundred we bet that you would take me if ever you had the chance.'

'Take you!—it was Dick Turpin I betted to take.'

'I am DICK TURPIN—that's my alias!' replied Jack.

'Dick Turpin! then I'll have a snap at you at all hazards,' cried Coates, springing suddenly towards him.

'And I at you,' said Turpin, discharging his pistol right in the face of the rash attorney; 'there's a quittance in full.'

| Contents |

BOOK III

THE GIPSY

Lay a garland on my hearse

    Of the dismal yew;

Maidens, willow branches bear,

    Say I died true.

My love was false, but I was firm

    From my hour of birth;

Upon my buried body lie

    Lightly, gentle earth—